Lessons on Prayer

To be a man of prayer to pray according to God's heart's desire, one has to learn spiritual principles set up by God; learn the life lessons from the history of the children of God, and also learn from the negative situations among God's children as holy warnings. 

Samuel as a man of prayer had learned all these lessons as he grew up and therefore could serve effectively as a Nazarite, prophet, priest, judge, and a man of prayer. He represented God among God's people and turned the age from the waning and degrading priesthood to the age of the king. In fact, he anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Such a man, Samuel, approved of God or asked of God, is the need of the age. Today's Samuel is the need now, who would be an overcomer to turn the age. Who can be such?

To be an overcomer like today's Samuel, the first requirement is to voluntarily consecrate as a Nazarite. In this consecration, one has to deal with the world with all its enjoyment and pleasure. This needs a thorough and strong consecration. We live in an age surrounded by the world with all its glories and glitters, only a "Samuel" can overcome its stupefying effects. Then, there is a need for complete submission to God's authority and His many deputies' authorities. Then there must be the dealings with natural affection and abstaining from spiritually dead people. All these, in principle, were laid down in Numbers 6.

Following the consecration, there must be the learning of life lessons in learning to listen to God.

And Eli said to Samuel, Go and lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, Speak, O Jehovah; for Your servant is listening. And Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then Jehovah came and stood by and called as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for Your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9-10

Learn to listen to God. Do not do anything without the word of God. Besides, Samuel also witnessed all the evils that Eli's sons had committed in the house of Jehovah. He observed the situation, though negative, yet did not rebel against Eli's house, nor tried to bring in revolution, but as he heard from God and saw revelations concerning God's heart's desire, he quietly learned and turned all those things he saw as holy warnings which became a preservation for him for his whole life. With all these spiritual learnings, he was a man of prayer. Such a person can indeed be a man of prayer. He even regarded not praying for god's people as a sin.

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray for you, but I will instruct you in the good and right way. 1 Samuel 12:23

In line with this, in the church's perfecting training, we also learned some precious lessons on prayer from A Pattern of the Healthy Words, Lesson Twenty, Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.

Col. 4:2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.

Phil. 4:6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Mark 9:29  And He said to them, This kind cannot come out by any means except prayer.

The highest and most accurate meaning of prayer is that it is the mutual contact between God and man.

A vital person, an overcomer, is a praying person. 

The vitality is not in your doing. The vitality is in your prayer.

To pray means that we realize that we are nothing and that we can do nothing.

Prayer is man breathing in God, obtaining God, and being obtained by God. 

When some saints hear a word about prayer, they immediately ask how to pray. We should forget about how and simply pray. We learn to pray by praying.

We need to persevere in prayer because almost everything in our environment is contrary to prayer. Only prayer can enable us to go against the current. Therefore, we need to persevere in prayer, to pray persistently.

Before we try to persevere in prayer, we should first make a deal with the Lord concerning our prayer life and make a vow to Him concerning our prayer life. We should set aside definite times for prayer.

Our attitude should be that prayer is our most important business and that nothing  should be allowed to interfere with it.

All the above points were the burden I receive in the last week and shared the same to a group of believers in Madhya Pradesh and also in the church meeting last Lord's day. As I released the burden, it was also a timely word for me as well. In fact, in the prayer meeting last week, we led the saints to have a time of consecration for payer alone, and I myself reconsecrated again pray for at least one hour daily. 

May the Lord grace all of us to be a man of prayer, an overcomer, to turn the age to bring in the kingdom of God.

Hannah Ministry

1 Samuel 1:10-18: And she was bitter in soul and prayed to Jehovah and wept much. And she made a vow and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if You will indeed look upon the affliction of Your female servant and remember me and not forget Your female servant, but give to Your female servant a male child, then I will give him to Jehovah for all the days of his life, and no razor will come upon his head. And while she continued praying a long time before Jehovah, Eli watched her mouth. And Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk. And Eli said to her, How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine from you. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord. I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before Jehovah. Do not take your female servant for a worthless woman; for out of the greatness of my anxiety and provocation I have been speaking all this time. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have requested from Him. And she said, Let your servant find favor in your sight. And the woman went her way; and she ate, and her countenance was sad no more.

God needs an overcomer to accomplish His heart's desire. To gain His heart's desire He needs those who would cooperate with Him. Hannah and her husband were the ones who cooperated with God and lived on the line of life despite the degradation they were in. Hannah, out of her much desperation for being barren, prayed, poured out her soul, and asked for a male child. The Lord answered her prayer and gave her Samuel whom she lent to God all the days of his life. Even before she bore a son, she believed in the prophet's consoling words and trusted in Jehovah. She sure is a pattern for us to follow today, in the matter of her prayer life.

The best way to cooperate with God is by our prayers. In the present state of degradation where even the service to God has become stale and waning, there is a need to turn the age. For this, God is working behind the scene. He uses the circumstances and the people around to force us to pray. In the case of Hannah, the Lord shut up her womb and her co-sister provoked her too. That was what made Hannah desperate to pray to God. In like manner, the Lord would allow certain "things" to happen beyond our human understanding to make us desperate and absolute so that we can do nothing but pray. In fact, when He moves to burden us to pray, we might as well lose our appetite and sleep and taste for anything other than to go before the Lord and pray, even with weeping and fasting. In such a way, the Lord can gain our cooperation so that we can bring forth "Samuels" to turn the age.

This Hannah ministry is not merely to save a lot of souls or beget a lot of children, but to bring forth a king with His kingdom. Peninnah brought forth many children but none of them were produced as king for the kingdom of God. Hannah bore just one son, Samuel, who became an age turn, a priest, a prophet, a judge, a Nazarite, and a man of prayer. This is Hannah ministry; the ministry of the New Testament, of the Spirit, of life, and of producing overcomers. To produce an overcomer, there is a price that need to be paid; the price of testing and suffering, persecution and provoking, fasting and weeping, and trusting and waiting.

Gems from Hannah Ministry

Bitterness in soul can be healed by the crucified and resurrected Christ: Bitter in soul in 1 Samuel  1:10, "she was bitter in soul and prayed to Jehovah and wept much" can be linked to Exodus 15:23, "the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore its name was called Marah." In such a bitter situation Moses cried out to Jehovah and was shown a tree, a type of the New Testament Christ.

Exodus 15:25 And he cried out to Jehovah, and Jehovah showed him a tree; and he cast it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them.

1 Peter 2:24 Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed.

When we are in such bitter situation, we simply must turn to the resurrected and crucified Christ, who can turn our bitter water into sweet water.

Psalms 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;  Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge to us. Selah

Male child and the man child: The male child in 1 Samuel 1:11, "give to Your female servant a male child" can be linked with the man-child in Revelation 12:5, "she brought forth a son, a man-child," who brings in the kingdom, "Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ."

The reality of the male child is the man child for God to move to turn the age and bring in God's kingdom. For this, there is an urgent need for Hannah ministry of prayer.

Last Wednesday, the burden the Lord gave me was just this; to minister on Hannah ministry. This was in line with God's economy and also in line with the burden the Lord gave me to release among the seekers in Madhya Pradesh. In minsitering so, I did not minister as a one who indeed have this ministry already, but as a learner, ministering to others as I would to myself.

Lord, grace me to be Your man-child to bring forth Your kingdom in and under Hannah ministry.

Gospel to the Haryanvis

“Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days until the consummation of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, RecVer)

In 2005 my service was transferred to Gurgaon. A year later, I got married and settled in the city since then for the Lord’s testimony and His move. As the church we have been preaching the gospel in this city among the native people. Though a good number of sinners have been saved and gained into the church life, still the testimony among the local people needs much strengthening. For this, I have been burdened by the Lord. 

In fact, a couple of times, I have told the Lord in my prayer that I have consecrated my life for His purpose and if He should so will, I am even ready to give my life for Chirst and the church. One time I happened to express this desire in a time of fellowship to a more matured brother. I was reprimanded by him to have a view that we should expect the Lord’s return and be raptured rather than to contemplate even to be lay down our lives for the Lord. Anyhow, the Lord has implanted His burden into my heart and I am praying for it to be fulfilled in time.

This year a fresh and renewed burden has been conceived within me; to gain the locals, especially, the Haryanvis as I am already here in Haryana. Now, as a family we have decided to pray for the local people every night. Though we have been praying for this burden, now we have intensified this prayer burden; the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Haryanvis and immigrants in the city and state.

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all mankind. Many have heard the gospel and believed into it, and many more are yet to even hear the gospel. The Lord has sovereignly brought me and my family and the saints in the church for this purpose. Here we are, to cooperate with God in fulfilling His will. Lord, Your will be done!

Here and there, there are families whom the Lord is gaining. There are contacts and there are gospel friends, but we pray for the families who would see the vision of God's economy clearly and take a firm stand for the building up of the Body of Christ on the ground of oneness.

Caring for My Brother

One evening as I was praying, the Lord burdened me to consider and care for the welfare of my younger brother in the flesh. He has a daughter, of my youngest daughter's age group, and twin sons. 

Last December when I visited home for a few days I saw the actual situation of the education and spiritual atmosphere at my village in Keikhu, Imphal East. Therefore, I fellowshipped with my brother and sister to carefully consider how to take care of the education of the children. If this matter is not taken care in time it will affect their whole life. The best earthly gift we can give to our children is a proper education, academically educated and humanly disicplined, with a normal Christian family life. If these two, spiritual and wholistic education are imparted, what children needs most for their life is set. Upon this foundation, they can develop further.

I brought the matter to fellowship with my wife and prayed for it, waiting for the proper way and time to accomplish this. The Lord even showed me the boarding school where this burden can be carried out. I am familiar with the ones who runs the school and the principal too. As Christian brother, I have a good feeling about the people overseeing the school.

Last week, I was casually informed that my brother's daughter will be admitted in this same boarding school which the Lord showed me. On hearing the news, I felt that the Lord has confirmed the burden He gave me. As to my participation in financing, I am willing and burdend for it, but the Lord indicated that they can bear this burden by themselves lest they would take it too light a thing about their children's education. The parents themselves need to bear the burden and pay the price for the sake of their children's future. Lest the help rendered to the children would not benefit the parent much.

The burden was given and the way to carry out the burden was also paved. When the Lord burdens He also fulfills the burden. Praise the Lord!

Standing with Brothers in Christ

On the 31st of January 2022, I received a call from a brother and a friend concerning his family situation. It was personal and he felt good to confied with me as Christian brother and friend for prayer support. He narrated the matter and I took it to heart to sincerely care for my brother and his wife. I fellowshiped with him the fundamental need for contacting the Lord in prayer and receive His life daily through the word of God. Based on this basic foundation I fellowshiped with him that the Christian life has to be developed further day by day unto full maturity.

I took this call as from the Lord and decided to pray for my brother and his wife. In addition, I have also made arrangement for free Rhema literature to be distributed among the believers in the Army battalion  where he has been posted. When he confirmed the receipt of these books, his wife was also admitted in a clinic for a treatment. I let him know that I have been standing with him in prayer. May the Lord gain my brother and sister for His testimony. 

Another brother also called to fellowship last Saturday on a seemingly better opportunity that came up in his professional career. My only fellowship was to consider before the Lord in prayer and fellowship with his wife and follow the Lord’s inner leading by life and peace. 

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6, RecVer)

I even warned him not to be guided by better job status and pay scale. Only God knows what is best. Besides, I also mentioned to him that this "opportunity" is allowed by the Lord so that he can learn to bring it before the Lord in prayer and follow the Lord’s leading. Whether he stays in the same job or catch this new opportunity, it must be done so with the Lord’s leading and, in the process, experience Christ and gain Chirst. This will strengthen his faith and sweeten his fellowship with the Lord. And with him too, I am standing in prayer.

Wedding of Saints

One of the full-time serving sisters of Marathi Recovery Version was engaged to a brother in the church in New Delhi. Though she had sent an official letter for marriage leave I did not pay much attention to even attending it until the day before her wedding when the Lord reminded me of taking care of the feeling of the saints. The reason I did not bother that much was, there was no formal invitation nor announcement made due to the pandemic restriction for public gatherings. But when I came to learn of the wedding, the Lord reminded me to call the sister and find out what her need would be so that gifts could be given.

Personally, I was not very keen and there was no personal invitation too. But the Lord reminded me to be of large heart and do my best to make her wedding memorable and grace the couple with my presence at least. Therefore, just the day before the marriage, I decided to attend the wedding and also prepared some gifts. In fellowship with my coordinating brother, we felt good to gift the couple a Holy Bible Recovery Version, Leatherbound Burgundy, a Dining Set, and two royal designed mugs. 

This sister propagated in Gurugram for one term when she was in the training. She and the other saints were on the same team as me. Door by door in Sector 55 gospel preaching was carried out. She was very stable and bold in contacting new ones. Later, she enrolled for New Testament Greek learning and was qualified to serve in the Marathi New Testament as a text checker. The brother engaged to her also gave me a very positive impression when he took the responsibility of making practical arrangements for my younger sister's marriage in the church in New Delhi. Though not a payback of what they have done, it was indeed a response to my good conscience of showing them my gratitude. By the way, the brother is from a non-believing background and his family did not agree to his marriage to a sister in the Lord. Thereby, none of his family members attended his wedding but the saints stood by him. That is a wonderful testimony.

This young couple has a bright future if they go on in the way they have been participating in the church life now. They are simply and love the Lord. They are indeed a pattern to many other young saints; loving the Lord from their young age and giving themselves to serve the Lord in the church. Thank the Lord for such young lovers of Christ and the church!

May the Lord bless this couple and make them useful vessels for His move in North India, especially among the Hindi-speaking people. 

New Ones

The past two months have been very hectic for me. I was fully occupied with the proofreading work of the Recovery Version in Hyderabad. When I came back I had to attend to all the pending works at home and the office. On the church service side too, I have not been able to resume the normal functions that I used to do last year.  I believe the Lord wanted me to move forward and learn new spiritual lessons.

Last year I was very busy with the church service and shepherding new ones; some of them are online prayer meetings on a daily basis and some weekly. This year all those meetings have not been continued and I reckoned that the Lord wanted me to pray for these ones and focus on more new ones. Deep within I felt there has to be a new beginning in the way I carry out my Christian service in church life. 

Two weeks ago, a brother brought two new ones on a Saturday evening. He and I coordinated together to preach the gospel to the two new ones. It so happened that one of them had his birthday on that day. So I gifted him the New Testament Recovery Version and a set of Shepherding Materials, and another set to the other friend. They both heard the gospel and received the Lord. Despite me not being able to go out for the gospel preaching as yet for this year, still, the Lord brought new ones to preach the gospel to at home! 

The following week, one of the new ones came again with his friend who is already a Christian. We had a wonderful time of fellowship on the eternal purpose of God with testimonies of salvation and Christian experiences. To that believing brother, I gifted a set of Hindi Shepherding Material and Life Lessons. In this way, the Lord enabled me to meet new ones at home. 

And last Friday, another new one came, who was a gospel contact of a brother who is coming to fellowship with us. This new one got baptized! And yesterday, in the church brothers' fellowship we all felt good to recover the gospel preaching of the church in Gurugram by physically coming together every Saturday for corporate prayer and corporate going out to preach the gospel. Our burden is for all the saints to exercise gospel preaching at least two hours in a week and each saint bearing fruits and that the fruits should remain. All the brothers and the sisters too agreed that we have to recover the exercise of gospel preaching.

I believe the Lord will work Himself into each one of us and recover His heart's desire through us in the church here in Gurugram by gaining many new ones to bear His testimony.